Stockholm - the essence

As a child I spent hours flicking through a fairy tales book by the Grimms. My favourite tale was Hans and Gretel. Every night I asked mom to read it for me and I ended up knowing each sentence by heart. I wondered whether such big forests to get lost while walking through actually existed and whether somewhere in the world people actually built fancy peaky-roofed houses with enormous windows, as the awful witch’s one. And hers ...it was even made of ginger biscuits!
What ginger was, it was not that clear to me, though mom had vaguely explained me that it was similar to saffron but darker and with a more intense taste.
Many years afterwards, I got an answer to all the questions that came into my mind while listening to Hans and Gretel fairy tale. I finally realized what the Grimms had in mind when I ended up in a Stockholm’s suburb for the first time: a constellation of peaky-roofed houses surrounded by green parks appeared to my eyes!
Sweden capital city is definitely the one that went more beyond my expectations, among the places I visited so far. As I landed at Arlanda airport for the first time, I assumed I would have spent a week in a Copenhagen-like town: I was wrong! Nothing to do with the excessively touristic and terribly calm Danish “sister”!

Stockholm lies on an archipelagos of islands, each connoted by its own architectonical features and attractions: Sodermalm – the young, lively liberty district; Skansen – truly an open-aired kids “playground”; Gamla Stan – the ancient city centre, which dates back to the XIII century; Ostermalm – the modern “outfit” of the while Country.

The town life rhythm is just relaxing, or at least it is for me. I love Sodermalm so much: it’s a residential borough, slightly apart from touristic sights. During the day, it’s the crossroads of students and workers…the same people that crowd the area’s fancy pubs and cafes at night. Out the subway stop (Slussen), there’s a square, dominated by a “rokeri” – a fish smoking house (for those who think that fast food tastes plastic, I strongly recommend to have a blind order, beyond the globalized smoked salmon… for example, I discovered my favourite is the “stromming smorbrot” which I still ignore what actually means and what meant I was eating!). You not gonna find anything to sightsee or take picture of in Sodermalm: you gonna have the chance to stop and observe. And learn. That’s why it’s my very favourite place in Stockholm: I discovered that several offices are connected through underground channels to avoid going outside in winter time; I tried a kick with a hockey stick for the first time in my life in a sports outlet there; I was told that leggings are for summer, whereas in winter one wears thick and colourful “tights”.

Those who aren’t much fine with the issue of being grown-up people, Stockholm is definitely the place to be: you’ll find all the gorgeous stuff that grown-up are convinced no to exist…because it’s just a kids dream. Remember when you wished the sun wouldn’t set because you wanted to keep playing? In summertime, sun shines till very late at night in Stockholm.

You’d have moved heaven and earth to get a lemonade and a chocolate roll at Pippi Longstockings’ soda-pop tree? In Djurgarden – Skansen – at Astrid Linger’s theme park you’ll find not only the soda-pop tree but even Pippi’s lovely horse.
You used to climb on whatever was taller than you were? In Stockholm parks you’ll enjoy wild climbing on artificial walls.

You read at least twice Silver Skates? Book a low-cost flight in December for a couple of skating days downtown Stockholm: the ice ring, surrounded by historical buildings, and the friendly Swede population practicing its national sport will make you plunge through your childhood book memories.

The Swede are deeply attached to their traditions. On June 21st, they celebrate the longest day of sunshine with street concerts and barbecues. During summer, they practice several outdoor sports in the city’s green areas: those who are used to jogging beside traffic jams as I am in Milan will be amazed by the amount of parks that the town offers. Fancy trying Nordic walking? Go to Karlsberg Slottpark. Are you a skater? Vanadislunden Park. What about getting a glam tan? Humlegarden, next to the main malls…just in case you’ll end up with a craving for shopping!

In December, Xmas lights seem a shiny dress that make the city bright no matter the never-ending darkness of the Scandinavian winter. People meet around Xmas markets, having a chat at the entrance points where small fires are lighted to literally warm up the atmosphere. As you are hanging around for shopping there’s nothing better than a glass of hot Glogg – a berries juice served with raisins and almonds inside and some cinnamon biscuits. If you are brave enough to visit a market after 4.30 pm, you’ll surely get one!

If the weather is frosty, Swede’ politeness and friendliness will compensate abundantly. You’ll have great fun dancing around a giant Xmas tree at the sound of carols and local chorus. Tradition wants people to hold each other’s hands in a circle. And nobody escapes from tradition in Sweden: you’ll jump and twist in-between old ladies in local fancy dresses, blond kids, young punks and Sri-lankese immigrants. Everything is harmonic: no one yells, no one’s on a nervous break down, no one’s impolite. Life is designed around children even when it’s about adults: no one loses its capacity to dream.

You’ll even find those ginger-biscuit houses you were told of before you fell asleep, in Stockholm.